Broadband News

Tue, 31st Oct 2017

ACMA consulting industry on self-regulation

Telecommunications regulator the Australian Communications and Media Authority is contemplating whether certain industry functions, including the Do Not Call Register and sections of the Spam Act relating to electronic messaging should be self-regulated by industry.

Source: iTWire

Yet another NBN 'shortfall', perfect fodder for the ACCC and TIO?

A reader wrote in with a curiously amusing reply from NBN Co regarding the availability for NBN for that reader's home, with the NBN available for a neighbour, but not available for our reader.

Source: iTWire

Mon, 30th Oct 2017

CCC says ACCC draft market study report 'a milestone for future regulation'

The CCC says the ACCC's draft report "is a significant milestone in shaping appropriate future regulation of the rapidly changing telecoms and communications sector."

Source: iTWire

ACCC casts doubt on future NBN profits

The ACCC has urged the government to reconsider the requirement for NBN Co to recover its costs and turn a profit.

Source: iTnews Australia

Can ACCC's new study solve the NBN mess, or are its '29 recommendations' toothless?

Can a government organisation (ACCC) solve the NBN mess created by the government organisation that caused it (NBN Co), or will we just end up with 29 recommendations spanning a wide range of competition and consumer issues in communications markets?

Source: iTWire

NBN opens up ‘digitisation’ opportunities for Aussie business, says senior exec

A senior executive of the company building the National Broadband Network, NBN Co, says the NBN represents a significant opportunity for the ICT industry to assist in the digital transformation of Australian business.

Source: iTWire

Exetel first to roll out Optus Wholesale alternative to fixed broadband

Services provider, Exetel, will be the first partner to roll out ​Optus Wholesale home wireless broadband solution.

Source: ARN

NBN, mobile blackspots could face legal challenge

Decisions on mobile blackspot funding and the regional NBN rollout could be susceptible to legal challenges by aggrieved third parties, according to Labor.

Source: iTnews Australia

ACCC questions NBN cost recovery arrangements

A draft report on the state of Australian’s communications market calls for the government to consider a number of radical changes to the policy settings governing the rollout of the National Broadband Network.

Source: Computerworld

Fri, 27th Oct 2017

NBN to deliver broadband services to Defence bases

Personnel at some 400 Air Force, Navy and Army sites will receive broadband access under a deal between the Australian Defence Force and NBN.

Source: Computerworld

NBN signs Defence Force deal

Under a deal with the Australian Defence Force, NBN will provide broadband access to 400 navy, army, and air force sites across the nation.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Thu, 26th Oct 2017

The NBN is just another government project failure

About five minutes into ABC’s Four Corners investigation into the National Broadband Network (NBN) program on Monday evening, I realised that once again, we weren’t talking about the real issues of large government project failure.

Source: ARN

The ACMA Is Future-Proofing Australia's 4G And 5G Mobile Networks

We already use our phones a lot, and there are a lot of us using phones at the same time. That means a lot of pressure on Australia's mobile networks, which are already stretched to breaking point. The Australian Communications and Media Authority is making decisions on the future of 4G and 5G for the next five years that will make sure the limited wireless spectrum we have is efficiently used. More »     

Source: Gizmodo

Wed, 25th Oct 2017

NBN examining CVC options, but must give RSPs two years' notice

NBN has been examining a number of options on changing its pricing structure, but consumers may be on hold for a two-year window.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Ipsos Global Advisor survey finds Australia ranks lowest for broadband satisfaction

Australia has been ranked last out of 28 countries when it comes to broadband satisfaction, a new international poll shows.

Source: SMH

5G will be a convenient but expensive alternative to the NBN

5G will provide convenient broadband access for some internet users, but the NBN will remain the network of choice for most customers, writes Rod Tucker.

Source: ABC News

TIO rejigs to better handle NBN complaints

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has refined its complaint handling to better deal with complicated NBN issues where one or more service providers may be at fault.

Source: iTnews Australia

Labor asks Turnbull to detail financial advice on NBN

Two members of the Labor Party's shadow cabinet have called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to provide details about how the anticipated lack of income from the national broadband network will affect the federal budget.

Source: iTWire

NBN Co leaves speeds data release to RSPs

The government and NBN Co continue to resist calls to publish a database of maximum attainable speeds for every line on the NBN, arguing it is a call for retail service providers (RSPs) to make.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co looks to launch uncongested 50Mbps service

NBN Co is set to unveil a 50Mbps residential product before the end of the year that comes bundled with enough bandwidth to be uncongested during peak periods.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co turns to G.fast to entice business

NBN Co is planning to deliver its first deployments of G.fast technology in the second half of 2018, but the services will initially only be available for business users.

Source: iTnews Australia

We can't tell you if you need the NBN, but we can give you an idea

Rather than explaining what the NBN is, we thought we'd go through the things you'd probably use it for and whether it would make a difference for you.

Source: ABC News

NBN to launch G.fast in 2018

NBN's gigabit speed-enabling technology for its fibre-to-the-node, building, and curb networks will be launching next year, it has announced.

Source: ZDNet Australia

nbn gets set to go with G.fast tech as Govt defends rollout

​nbn has revealed that it will be adding G.fast broadband tech to the NBN rollout next year, as the network comes under new levels of scrutiny.

Source: ARN

NBN narrows in on pricing changes

NBN has assessed a range of options for changes to its pricing, some of which represent a significant departure from its current model. The company’s CEO, Bill Morrow, has said he expects to make an announcement about a product incorporating a new pricing structure before the end of the year.

Source: Computerworld

'Lemonade-stand economics' not serving NBN well: IT group

The main problem with the current approach to the national broadband network is "lemonade-stand economics" — a simplistic approach that completely ignores any cost or benefits that doesn't cross NBN Co's financial ledgers — the head of an IT lobby group says.

Source: iTWire

Tue, 24th Oct 2017

What's everyone saying about the NBN?

It's been described as "calamitous", "stomach turning" and a "changed horse". So what is everyone actually saying about the troubled rollout of the NBN this week?

Source: ABC News

ISP chief offers tips to cope with NBN in current state

The head of ISP Aussie Broadband says the only thing that's missing from the current discussion around the national broadband network is common sense talk about how to cope with the existing situation.

Source: iTWire

Vocus targets 10 percent of all NBN users

Vocus has set an end goal of securing 10 percent of the total NBN market and outlined steps it is taking to “insulate” itself against the rising cost of servicing those customers.

Source: iTnews Australia

'Shambolic' NBN has hit subcontractors hard, union claims

Workers who are employed doing work on the national broadband network are being forced to deal with the disaster that the project has become, the Communications Union says.

Source: iTWire